Flu cases at new highs in 2015

More Australians have been diagnosed with the flu in the first five months of 2015 than in any previous year.

However while the government's Australian Influenza Surveillance Report shows case numbers between January and May have reached their highest levels since records began in 2001, the health department says in the report that overall influenza activity as low and stable.

The Australian flu season is considered to be between June and October.